Nicola Woods of Beautiful Soul chose to sit out the runway action at London Fashion Week this season. Instead, the British designer pulled together a team of like-minded creatives to produce a film that showcased “Believe,” her Spring/Summer 2011 collection, to full dramatic effect. Although Woods was inspired by the Grace Kelly retrospective at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, along with the vintage wardrobe of stylist Naomi Thompson, she doesn’t stray far from her signature source material: vintage kimonos. Her take on the feminine 1950s silhouette with a “twist of the Orient” includes trench coats, cropped jackets, and capes that are adjustable to accommodate its wearer’s changing body.

AVIARY DREAMS

“Believe” is notable for two other reasons: Not only does it introduce an exclusive retro bird print by eco-textiles maven Polly Hope (whom Woods met at an Ethical Fashion Forum event), but it also marks the two-year-old label’s first foray into menswear. Both the main line and her capsule range of men’s blazers and tailored suits are about “pushing personal boundaries and chasing dreams,” according to Woods—the same ethos the former insurance broker has applied to her own life.

“Believe” is about pushing personal boundaries and chasing dreams, according to the designer.

“I also hoped that it would allow an escape and encourage a smile,” she tells Ecouterre. “From the outset, I wanted to make a positive, creative little film. Their enthusiasm matched my own and we each take full credit for this film.”

Sample the world of Beautiful Soul below for three minutes of romantic heaven.